The Celtics’ brutal loss to the Timberwolves Monday followed a familiar script. The C’s coughed up a late-game lead due to atrocious defense and execution. But this defeat especially hurt, because Minnesota was playing with a random roster. In fact, the Timberwolves’ own players didn’t even know their teammates.
Take Nathan Knight, for example. The two-way contract player had his way with the Celtics’ big men, scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while dominating Robert Williams III, who was in foul trouble all night. Jaylen Nowell played just 9.8 minutes per game heading into Monday, but managed to score 29 points off the bench. Former Celtic Greg Monroe, who just signed a 10-day contract with the T-Wolves, added 11 points and nine rebounds.
After the game, Monroe complimented his new and anonymous teammates. “Not gonna lie, Jaylen Nowell played awesome tonight, but I had no idea who that was.” Monroe said.
The Celtics entered the affair short-handed, with Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart and Dennis Schroder and Josh Richardson all out. But the Timberwolves were even more decimated. They had just one regular starter available, and six of their top eight scorers weren’t available.
So it was a rag-tag group that edged out the Celtics 50-26 in the paint, contributing to their second half comeback. Jaylen Brown, the most accomplished player on the court, went just 8-of-24 from the field and missed five free throws. It was his first game of the season playing without Tatum.
Brown roasted himself in his postgame presser. “That was probably one of my worst games of the season,” he said.
Al Horford, who just returned from Covid-19 protocol himself, said the Celtics are “searching” and “must look in the mirror.”
When they do, they’ll see a woefully underachieving basketball team that sits at 16-18 and sees its season slipping away. Just three days ago, they were enjoying a 19-point lead against the defending NBA champions on the road on Christmas Day. But Tatum was unable to close, and Giannis Antetokounmp came alive.
But on Monday, it was the likes of Jayden McDaniels and Nathan Knight who buried the Celtics in the second half, and may have buried their season once and for all.
The C’s will take on the Clippers and Suns before mercifully closing out 2021.